I saw Pearl Harbor with Ben Afleck and Kate Beckinsale, and I did
wonder about those who died on the U.S.S. Oklahoma, and wonder
did anyone ever find the wreck of the U.S.S. Oklahoma and where is
she now?

According to most reports, and salvage team accounts, the
Oklahoma listed, then righted herself, then sank 540 miles away from
Honolulu? Did anyone know how deep the water is, and has any
recent search of the U.S.S. Oklahoma been conducted?

I wonder if Bob Ballard, Woods Hole, or the U.S. Navy could at least
locate the U.S.S. Oklahoma's final resting place to at least give some
closure to those who died and efforts to salvage such a memorial to
the tragedy of the Pearl Harbor Attacks.

Would seem inappropriate that 400+ Navy Personnel were to die,
a senseless death, that despite the money spent trying to salvage
the U.S.S. Oklahoma, only to be sold for scrap, then 540 miles from
the Hawaii Islands, in 'clear' or 'quiet' weather, take on water, list,
then right itself, then sink not even knowing where the ship finally
came to rest?

No respect for the dead Officers and Crew of the U.S.S. Oklahoma?
I hate to sound this way, but after watching Pearl Harbor and movies
related to the December 7th Attack, it seems the U.S.S. Arizona gets
a memorial bridge to show a piece of the funnel and hourly or so oil
fuel floating, yet, no such respect for the U.S.S. Oklahoma or any
other ship that was later sold for scrap, or where the current wreck
remains of the ships that survived Pearl Harbor?

I only hope some effort be made or at least mention to Bob Ballard
or some research team to find and possibly mark the current wreck
site of the U.S.S. Oklahoma. May Hashem Grant peace, rest and also
closure to the families who lost their "Warriors of the Sea" during the
December 7th Attack, and may Hashem grant wisdom, knowledge
and understanding to the true fate of the U.S.S. Oklahoma how she
was towed, listing, then righted herself only to sink! May Hashem
be able to motivate those who have the means and tools to look for
and find the Wreck of the U.S.S. Oklahoma, and to bring the surviving
family members and crew to pay tribute and final respects to the
Sacrifice of Freedom. "Freedom is never really FREE"

It was always my understanding that the remains of those killed on the Oklahoma were removed during the righting and salvage of the ship at Pearl so I would think their loved ones wouldn't need 'closure' as to their whereabouts. I just assumed they were buried somewhere in Hawaii.

With the war raging I think the cold reality was that they repaired the ships that could be put back in the fight first and since both the Oklahoma and the Arizona were such complete wrecks they were left to be salvaged last. One article stated that the Oklahoma was salvaged purely to free up docking space. That's harsh, but again, think of the mindset of those days. We wanted to win the war. All other considerations were given short shrift.

I've never had the chance to go to Hawaii. I always figured the Arizona memorial was for not only her dead crew, but a memorial for everyone who died in that attack.

I'm not sure what would be accomplished by locating the Oklahoma's hull. There are a lot of other Pacific wrecks yet undiscovered and Oklahoma was formally decommissioned in as a US warship in September 1944, unlike the Arizona which never was.

The Arizona was in fact decommissioned. http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/BB39.htm I bought off on this myth for a while myself until someone brought it to my attention that she was decomm'd, and rather shortly after PH happened. As for looking for the Okie, you're looking for a needle in, well, the ocean. My guess would be no one has funded, or wanted to fund a search for the wreck.

the remains of the crewmen of the Oklahoma were removed and buried after the navy righted and re floated the ship. they are buried in mass graves here in punchbowl cemetery. the headstones read 8 unknown USS Oklahoma Pearl Harbor Hawaii, 7 unknowns, and so on. also the remains are slowly being identified. one was identified a few years ago from his DNA on letters he had written home. so i think the families do not need to see the wreck to get closure. also, the ship was stripped down before it was sold as scrap. there is no superstructure, guns, and most of the equipment is gone. all thats left is a hulk that would barely be recognizable. in my opinion, it should remain where it is. undisturbed. it is good it sank before being cut apart as other crew members have been forced to witness. Let it rest where it sank. in peace

WOW! It's amazing how one question can bring two new folks to sign on.

WELCOME ABOARD, both of you!

I hate to be a curmudgeon, but Pearl Harbor has to be the absolute worst movie on the war ever. But that's just my opinion.

As for Oklahoma, I agree with Mike - diving and taking pictures is fine, but leave her where she is. I doubt she could be raised anyway.

__________________
"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." ―Aristotle

__________________
"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." ―Aristotle

I'm not sure what would be accomplished by locating the Oklahoma's hull. There are a lot of other Pacific wrecks yet undiscovered and Oklahoma was formally decommissioned in as a US warship in September 1944, unlike the Arizona which never was.